AmaMbhatha Heritage Society National Conference Date: 20 march 2011 Apologies: Ozias Mbatha, Bekeh Mbatha, Londi Mbatha, Bheki Mbatha People who were present: (Introduction was done individually as people were introducing themselves) 1. Stanley Mbatha (Tsakane GP) 2. Lindo Mbatha (Botha's Hill) 3. Nhlakanipho Mbatha 4. Zamashandu Mbatha 5. Phume Mbatha Olindi 6. Nonku Mbatha - Umlazi 7. Maphindy Mbatha 8. Fanisiwe Mbatha - Babanango 9. Guaiza Mbatha ( Vaal) 10. Zinhle Mbatha - Umlazi 11. Thobisile Shandu 12. Mano MaNgubane Mbeje 13. Muziwenhlanhla Mbeje - KwaNdengezi 14. Phumla Mbatha (Njabuliso's wife) 15. Bongani Mbatha - KwaMashu 15. Bhekani Mbeje - Greytown 16. Siyabonga Mbatha 17. Sbonelo Mbatha 18. Sfundo Shandu - Mandeni 19. Mbokodo Mbatha - KwaNobamba 20. Njabuliso Mbatha - Emadadeni but now JHB 21. Zandile Mbatha Memela - Mbumbulu/Newlandas 22. Nompilo Mbatha - Mbumbulu, Portshepston 23. Thembile Mbatha - Umlazi 24. Lindo Mbatha - Inanda 25. Ntuthuko Mbatha - Umzinto 26. Stuart Seni Mbatha - Umsinga 27. Velile Mbeje - PMB 28. Mandla Mbatha - Mtubatuba 29. Thokozile Mbatha - Nquthu 30. Senzo Mbatha - Melmoth 31. Vusimuzi Shandu 32. Nomfanelo Mbatha 33. Sthembiso Mbatha - Isipingo 34. Mahlengy Mbatha - Nanda 35. Nozipho Mbatha - Inanda 36. Linda Mbatha - Pinetown 37. Sibonelo Mbatha - Folweni 38. Sfiso Mbatha - Fowleni 39. MaMbatha - Folweni 40. Vusimusi Mbatha - Botha's Hill 41. Monqoba Mbatha - Mahlabathini 42. Mboniseni Mbatha - Empangeni 43. Simphiwe Mbeje - Lamontville 44. Jabulani Mbatha - hammerssdale 45. Lissa Mbatha- hammersdale 46. Sfiso Shandu- Melmoth NB::We had about 80 people, others did not fill the attendance register. The meeting was opened by prayer followed by 'Sibizw'eNhlazatshe' the AmaMbatha song. The Chairperson of the Working Committee Stanley Mbatha welcomed everybody present and explained the purpose of the meeting and the SG Lindo Mbatha Explained how AHS came about. The house was divided into commissions to discuss the following: 1. History of the amaMbhatha – Look on critical things about our history. 2. Constitution – To work on AHS constitution. 1. Economics & education programs- This was the exploration things we can do on various fields mostly to empower each other as the structure. NB: All people present participated in commissions) 1. History group/Commission Topics of discussion: History and Traditional leadership (Lead by Vusi Shandu and Senzo Mbatha) a. Kingship of amaMbatha. b. Imprisonment of King Mbhudlele. c. Our relationship with the Zulu kingdom. d. We have two groups of of AmaMbatha kingdom in Nkonjeni and Uitrecht. e. AmaMbatha monument at Nhlazatshe. f. Identification of monuments of amaMbatha. g. Surnames that we relate with etc. Resolutions We resolve to work hand in hand with the royal households of both emaMbatheni Chiefs Nqobizizwe Lucky Mbatha and Madubula Mbatha, and recognise emaMbatheni based at Nkonjeni under the leadership of Lucky Nqobizizwe Mbatha as the main Chieftaincy. We resolve to engage with the royal houses to establish and prove the status of King Mbhudlele. We recognize the kingdom of the Zulu. We also wish to work hand in hand with the royal household under King Goodwill Zwelithini. We resolve to claim all the land that belong to emaMbatheni and wish to first go and build the Shandu royal household at Nhlazatshe. Members must try and recognize their geology as much as possible and send it to amambathahs@gmail.com so that it is uploaded on the website that is going to be established. We seek to find out all the surnames that are related to the AmaMbatha with an aim of preventing inter-marriages. 2. ECONOMIC AND EDUCATIONAL UPLIFTMENT PROGRAMS. Lead by Lindo Mbatha & Nozipho Mbatha Office -Provincial Offices to be located at Ethekwini and Johannesburg -Regional offices can be opened later on. -Annual Membership must be agreed upon and it will utilized to sustain the offices. - Issues for discussion around membership fee is whether the membership is per head or per family, age limits, income groups, etc. Educational Trust Fund for all AmaMbatha children, nephews and niece. Fund to target disadvantaged children. Contributions – contributions do not equal to benefits. Criteria / Beneficiaries / nephews & nieces. Underwriting & Sponsors. Increasing Membership. Funeral Plan: Contributions. Criteria. Underwriting & Sponsor. Membership. Life Skills Workshop: Career Information. Placement within respective departments. Social gatherings: Launch at Nhlazatshe ( Monument) Annual amaMbatha Day. Motivation, for Spiritual and Emotional, Intelligence. Promotion of good family values. Road shows / Regional / Media. Business portfolios for job creators: Sessions will be organized for people to be well informed on how we to make wealth, how to apply for tenders etc. Construction companies, tourism (Nhlazatshe cultural village) . Having workshops where cars can be serviced. Investments on various things can be explored to leave legacy. A research should be done on investment portfolios with less risk. Business plan with vision and objectives to state long, short terms that we are able to speak of budget. Account need to be opened and a need of accountants advices is needed to ensure that we start and continue on the right footing. Constitution Group/Commission (Led by Njabuliso Mbatha) It have been suggested that constitution making should be democratize to avoid top down approach but built upon what people have decided. The commission stated that the Constitution is a big and legal document which couldn't be finished in one sitting. The constitution will be regarded as "work in progress". to be registered we had to adopt this document. Social development website has been recommended to get a draft of section 21 companies to assist in making our own constitution and Stanley Mbatha, the Chairperson explained that he got the guidelines and draft to ensure the compliance. Final resolution on constitution Due to having unfinished constitution the house has adopted the fact that the Working Committee should continue until the constitution is finished. The group that worked on the constitution has requested a two months period to have the constitution finished and it has been suggested that in six months the national AGM will be called. The conference was closed with prayer and 'ihubo lamaMbatha', "Sibizw'eNhlazatshe" The wonderful meeting was closed by having a group photo (and the video of the meeting was recorded) accompanied by lot of joyful singing and dance. Meat was there too. The house agreed on the things written on this report, that is why it’s become important that people comment/put their views when communication is sent out since not everything was touched which require a continues communication process. (Report prepared by Lindo Mbatha)